Final Score: Illinois State 3, Loyola 1 (25-18, 18-25, 25-14, 25-17)
Records: Illinois State (9-5, 2-0 MVC); Loyola (5-9, 0-1 MVC)
Location: Redbird Arena -- Normal, Ill.
Stats: Box Score  | Season Stats 

In Short...
Morgan Reardon pounded out 18 kills, including 12 alone in set two, but it wasn’t enough as Illinois State topped the Loyola University Chicago women’s volleyball team (25-15, 18-25, 25-14, 25-17) in the Ramblers’ 2016 Missouri Valley Conference opener Friday night. The Ramblers fall to 5-9 overall and 0-1 in MVC play, while the Redbirds move to 9-5 overall and 2-0 in Valley action.

How It Happened
Illinois State broke open set one by rattling off five unanswered points as part of a 9-1 run that turned an 11-11 tie into a 20-12 lead as the Redbirds collected a 25-15 victory in the opening set.

Reardon strapped the Ramblers on her back in set two, recording 12 of the team’s 16 kills in a 25-18 victory as Loyola drew even in the match. A Sami Hansen kill broke an 18-all tie and Quinn Spieker served out the final six points, two of which came courtesy of aces, while Reardon sandwiched a pair of kills around Spieker’s back-to-back aces.

ISU took control of the third set in the early going and never looked back after opening up a 10-5 lead. Loyola was never able to get on track offensively in set three, hitting just -.081 (6-9-37).

Loyola and Illinois State traded points early in the fourth set before the Redbirds reeled off three consecutive points to claim a 12-9 lead they would never relinquish. Illinois State led by as many as six points (21-15), before Loyola tried to mount one last rally. Back-to-back kills from Spieker cut the Ramblers’ deficit to 21-17, but the Redbirds closed out the set and match with four unanswered points, the last coming on a Courtney Pence service ace.

Looking At The Numbers
- Reardon was the only Rambler to reach double figures in kills (18) as she extended her streak of double-digit kill efforts to five matches.
- Freshman Delilah Wolf notched her fourth double-double of the season with 33 assists and 11 digs
- Preseason All-MVC pick Jaelyn Keene was one of two Illinois State players to record 15 kills on the night.

Up Next
Loyola closes out the weekend road trip by visiting Indiana State tomorrow night at 6 p.m. Central.